Head Lobbyist What’s In Charge

You know, kind of like ex-chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (SPD) being Gazprom’s top lobbyist?

Ain’t no big deal. The Greens are from the government and here to help, after all. They’re perfectly willing to turn a blind left eye to any conflict of interest or other ethical concerns in order to “save the planet.” The ends justify the means.

Germany’s foreign minister is facing domestic criticism over her surprise decision to recruit the head of Greenpeace as an international environmental envoy, including accusations she bent the rules to create the post and had obscured the divide between governing and lobbying…

She will reportedly receive a salary in line with that earned by bureaucrats of a similar rank, of almost €15,000 a month.

Morgan will have to also undergo a security check by Germany’s intelligence services, with some critics suggesting it may be difficult for her to distance herself from Greenpeace protest initiatives where its activists have clashed with the law.

German Of The Day: Enttäuschend

That means disappointing.

Olaf Scholz goes to Washington. Hope he’s not too disappointed with all the disappointment there.

The German government’s actions to date with respect to Ukraine have been disappointing at best. All of us in NATO are doing what we can to help Ukraine. And I think many of us believe that a country of Germany’s importance and capabilities could and should do a lot. Especially at a time that will be so important for the future of the European security order. I hope the German Government will decide to do the right thing.

German State Broadcasters Take Russian State Broadcaster Off The Air

They have enough state broadcasting to do on their own as it is, thank you.

The Russian state broadcasters will retaliate by taking the German state broadcaster off the air, of course. Oh why oh why can’t we learn to state broadcast together in peace?

Russia to target German media in response to German ban on RT TV – Russia will retaliate against Germany for banning the German-language service of Russian broadcaster RT, and the response will impact German media accredited in Russia and internet “intermediaries”, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

This Is CNN?

How refreshing or something. What others (conservative voices) have been warning about for years and years has finally gone “mainstream” – as in North Stream 2.

Why Germany is so vulnerable to Russian blackmail – Roughly half of Germany’s natural gas imports come from Russia. That reliance will become increasingly important in coming years as Germany embarks on a simultaneous phaseout from coal and nuclear energy. Russia is also an important destination for German exports. And for historical reasons, German leaders have long desired close relations with Russia.

Slowly but surely, Germany has maneuvered itself into a position of vulnerability vis-à-vis the Kremlin.

No, We’re Not Sending Any Helmuts

I said, we’re sending helmets. Click.

Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko pans German aid, ‘speechless’ at offer of helmets to Ukraine – The mayor of Ukraine’s capital city, former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, pulled no punches against the German government Wednesday after Berlin committed to supplying Ukraine with 5,000 military helmets in the face of a potential Russian invasion.

“The behavior of the German government leaves me speechless,” Klitschko, who was elected mayor of Kiev in 2014, told German tabloid Bild, according to Reuters. “The defense ministry apparently hasn’t realized that we are confronted with perfectly equipped Russian forces that can start another invasion of Ukraine at any time.”

“What kind of support will Germany send next?” Klitschko added. “Pillows?”

German Green Government In Action

It’s brilliant, really. Or diabolical, if you prefer.

First create the current energy crisis by forcing the country to go down the ideological path to unreliable and unaffordable renewable energy, come what may, heavily burdening the German taxpayer, consumer and businessman in the process. Then promise aid to those most negatively affected by this crisis by burdening the German taxpayer, consumer and businessman even further. And still come out of it smelling like a rose. Aid here is just another nice word for taxation.

Germany’s soaring energy prices force government to promise aid – Headline inflation dips slightly, but energy costs still rising at double-digit pace.

Progress

Living the Green German Dream.

In their Green German Dream World. The Germans proudly demonstrate to the rest of the world how to turn off their nuclear power plants (and their “dirty” power plants too) while simultaneously importing nuclear energy from France and dirty natural gas from Russia to make up the difference.

Germany shuts down half of its 6 remaining nuclear plants – Germany on Friday shut down half of the six nuclear plants it still has in operation, a year before the country draws the final curtain on its decades-long use of atomic power.

German Of The Day: Ausschreitungen

That means riots. You know, like the “riot” taking place in the photo of this anti-Covid measure demonstration down there?

Germany Erupts in Protests Over COVID Mandates, Police Officers Injured in Riots – The protests come as the German government implemented new restrictions this month to deal with the Omicron variant, which is believed to be more transmissible than other variants.

Earlier in December, Germany announced limits on private gatherings that were to begin Tuesday. The restriction is intended to limit the number of people holding large gatherings on New Year’s Eve. A maximum of 10 vaccinated people are allowed to attend a private gathering. If someone who is unvaccinated attends, only one other household can go to the gathering.

German lawmakers have approved a law mandating that medical staff be vaccinated, according to the broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

“Now is not the time for parties in large groups.”

German Of The Day: Bundesweit

That means nationwide.

You know, like “Thousands of opponents against the Corona measures took to the streets again nationwide Monday night?” And that came from one of Germany’s state TV channels too. Reminds me a bit of 1989. Sort of.

Thousands protest against Corona measures – Once again, numerous people have taken part in protests against the Corona regulations and against compulsory vaccination. The situation escalated in several cities: demonstrators attacked emergency forces.

New German Weapons Export Law That Won’t Actually Change Anything Now In The Works

It won’t change anything but it will make us feel good about ourselves.

Compare the weapons export numbers for Germany this year with the numbers this time next year if you don’t believe me. Just have patience. Seen it a dozen times. It’s a recurring, calming ritual Germans like to perform. They seem to believe it reinforces their moral superpower status.

Germany: Baerbock vows new law to curb weapons exports – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said new weapons export control legislation is in the works. During its last few days in power, Angela Merkel’s administration approved almost €5 billion in arms sales…

Together with the United States, Russia, and France, Germany is one of the world’s biggest arms exporters, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.